Global CO2 Flux Visualization
We transform raw data into insightful visuals for you! Explore CO2 flux across the globe throughout the year, highlighting seasonal changes and how CO2 moves through different regions.
Click these to explore CO2 flux by visuals !
Discover Global CO2 Insights
Welcome to the Global CO2 Flux Visualization platform, where we harness the power of data to create an immersive, interactive experience. Utilizing raw data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center, we convert complex datasets into visually striking graphics and animations through custom Python code. Allowing users to explore global CO2 fluxes and plumes. This provides a local yet holistic view of how CO2 moves through different regions and ecosystems.
Large Emission Event
A large emission event refers to a significant and often sudden release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These events can result from various activities or natural occurrences, including fossil fuel combustion, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, land use changes, industrial accidents, and natural gas leaks.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide over a short time frame. Tracking its emissions is crucial for effective climate change strategies. This motivate us to utilize data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center and Plotly in Python to create an interactive globe. We offer both a localized and holistic view of how CO2 moves across different regions and ecosystems, revealing the dynamics of carbon dispersion.
Choose a time frame and zoom in to the region of your interest to start explore!
Click here to start the Interactive Large Emission Event Tool.
Global CO2 flux by its source
CO2 flux at a global scale is crucial for understanding climate dynamics. We use data from the ocean, heterotrophic respiration (RH), net primary production (NPP), and fossil fuels (FF) to create visualizations. You can now explore these insights, gaining a clearer perspective on how each source contributes to global CO2 emissions.
Fossil Fuels (FF)
Extraction and Burning Fossil fuels is a human-caused emission
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, are non-renewable energy sources. Their combustion for energy production, transportation, and industry is a primary contributor to CO₂ emissions and global warming.
Interpretation:
CO₂ emissions in 2020 show a notable reduction compared to 2015, which coincides with the global slowdown of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transportation is a significant source of fossil fuel emissions, particularly along coastal areas due to high levels of shipping and air traffic. The substantial drop in emissions during 2020 highlights the impact of reduced transportation activities during the pandemic, underscoring the critical role of transportation in global CO₂ levels.
About the Data
Data from 2015 and 2020 examines CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion. A more recent data would provide a clear overview, yet comparing these years can lead to some interesting findings.
Interesting Findings
Coastal and Transportation Emissions: Emissions are heavily concentrated along coastal areas, with the outline of land masses appearing clearly in the data, reflecting high transportation activity in these regions. Transportation density is reflected clearly. Noticed the emission is highly correlated with ship and plane heat map.
Reduction in 2020: CO₂ emissions in 2020 show a notable reduction compared to 2015, which coincides with the global slowdown of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scientific Interpretation
Transportation is a significant source of fossil fuel emissions, particularly along coastal areas due to high levels of shipping and air traffic. The substantial drop in emissions during 2020 highlights the impact of reduced transportation activities during the pandemic, underscoring the critical role of transportation in global CO₂ levels.
Heat map of ship transportation
Heat map of ship transportation is highly correlated with CO2 flux from fossil fuels
Ocean
The ocean is a vast and essential component of Earth’s ecosystem, covering over 70% of the planet’s surface. It plays a critical role in regulating the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide, and supporting a diverse array of life forms, from microscopic phytoplankton to large marine mammals.
Interesting Findings
Equatorial Source: The equator serves as a source of carbon dioxide, while high-latitude regions generally act as sinks, except during summer. This indicates a cyclical transport of CO₂ from the atmosphere in other regions to the equator.
Temperature Influence: Higher temperatures lead to increased emissions, while lower temperatures enhance carbon absorption. Since seasonal changes significantly alter sea temperature, mid-latitude areas are more susceptible to fluctuations in carbon dynamics.
Coastal vs. Open Ocean: Emissions in coastal areas differ significantly from those in the open ocean, driven by local conditions.
Scientific Interpretation
Gas solubility is greater in colder water, making sea temperature a crucial factor in carbon absorption and emissions. The observed patterns suggest that understanding temperature changes in the ocean throughout the year is key to comprehending CO₂ flux on a global scale.
Ocean Currents and Climate
Ocean currents play a vital role in regulating climate by distributing heat across the planet. Warm currents can elevate temperatures in coastal regions, while cold currents can lead to cooler conditions. This circulation also influences weather patterns, including precipitation and storm activity.
Marine Ecosystems
The ocean supports a diverse range of ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, each contributing to carbon storage. Coral reefs, for example, not only provide habitat for numerous species but also protect coastlines from erosion.
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center for January to December 2022 highlights emissions and absorption patterns related to CO₂.
Compare seasonal fluctuations yourself!
2020 Ocean CO2 flux data, Unit: mmol per meter squared per day
Hint: In June, the northern hemisphere receive more sunlight than the southern hemisphere.
Heterotrophic Respiration (Rh)
We show the intensity of Rh, a natural source of CO2
Heterotrophic respiration (Rh) refers to the process where microbes break down organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a byproduct. This process is essential to the global carbon cycle, with variations depending on temperature, organic matter availability, and location. Rh is particularly significant in soils, especially in rainforests and mid-latitude regions, where seasonal changes influence microbial activity.
Data Source
Data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center (January 2023 to December 2023) focuses on CO₂ emissions from Rh across different regions. In the dataset, zero or “null” values are represented as white pixels, making them indistinguishable.
Interesting Findings
The equator is a significant source of CO₂ from Rh, especially in rainforest soils where high temperatures drive microbial activity. Deserts exhibit low Rh due to minimal organic matter, leading to very low CO₂ emissions.
In mid-latitude regions, Rh increases in summer and decreases in winter. These regions are highly sensitive to seasonal temperature changes, significantly affecting carbon dynamics throughout the year.
Knowledge background
Equatorial regions, characterized by high temperatures and abundant organic matter, experience increased microbial activity, resulting in elevated Rh and CO₂ emissions. Conversely, desert areas, with limited organic material, show minimal Rh and CO₂ output. Mid-latitude regions exhibit distinct seasonal patterns, with higher decomposition rates in summer and reduced activity in winter. These trends emphasize the critical role of temperature and organic content in regulating Rh and its contribution to global carbon emissions.
The Carbon Cycle
Heterotrophic respiration is a key component of
the carbon cycle, which describes the continuous movement of carbon among the
atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. Understanding Rh helps
illustrate how carbon is released back into the atmosphere and its implications
for climate change.
Microbial Ecology
Microbial communities in the soil play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Factors such as temperature, moisture, and organic matter availability influence their activity. This interaction between microbial life and environmental conditions is essential for maintaining soil health and fertility.
Impact of Land Use Changes
Changes in land use, such as deforestation or agriculture, can significantly impact Rh. For example, land conversion from forests to agriculture can disrupt the carbon cycle by changing the amount of organic matter available for decomposition, leading to altered CO₂ emissions.
Net Primary Production (NPP)
Plants and phytoplankton is a natural sink of CO2
Net Primary Production (NPP) refers to the amount of carbon fixed by plants and phytoplankton through photosynthesis, minus the carbon they respire. NPP is a critical part of the global carbon cycle, reflecting the balance between carbon capture and release.
In the visualization, yellow part signifies intense natural CO2 sink.
Data Source
Data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center (January 2023 to December 2023) tracks NPP trends across ecosystems.
Interesting Findings
Equatorial Peak
NPP is highest near the equator, particularly in tropical rainforests, where abundant sunlight and high temperatures drive elevated levels of photosynthesis. These forests are often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” because they produce substantial amounts of oxygen and sequester large quantities of CO₂.
Seasonal Variation
Mid-latitude regions experience seasonal fluctuations in NPP, peaking in warmer months due to increased photosynthetic activity. In contrast, declines are observed during colder months. These variations are less pronounced in equatorial regions, where conditions remain relatively stable throughout the year, and polar regions, which experience limited sunlight during winter.
Knowledge background
NPP is strongly influenced by sunlight, temperature, and nutrient availability. Equatorial regions, benefiting from consistent sunlight and warmth, show high NPP, while mid-latitude areas exhibit seasonal variation. Oceans contribute significantly to global carbon fixation through phytoplankton, particularly in nutrient-rich upwelling zones, but terrestrial ecosystems, especially forests, play a major role in global NPP. Understanding these patterns is vital for assessing the Earth’s carbon cycle and its influence on climate change.
Photosynthesis Process
During photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. This process not only fuels plant growth but also serves as the primary means of carbon capture from the atmosphere. Engaging with this concept can help individuals understand the importance of preserving forests and wetlands that play a vital role in carbon fixation.
Ecosystem Productivity
NPP is a crucial indicator of ecosystem health. High NPP values are associated with biodiverse and resilient ecosystems, while low values may indicate stressors such as pollution, climate change, or habitat destruction. By learning about these indicators, students can become advocates for ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts.
Global Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. NPP plays a vital role in this cycle by sequestering carbon, thus reducing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere and helping to mitigate climate change. Educational activities can include tracking NPP data over time and exploring its implications for environmental policies.
How we did it ?
For visualization of CO2 flux across time, we do the following steps:
Step1: We obtained raw greenhouse gas data from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center.
Step 2: Using Python and the rasterio and matplotlib libraries, we processed and visualized CO2 emissions data, mapping it with latitude and longitude coordinates to accurately represent geographic variations in emissions levels.
Step 3: We generated output images from our visualizations.
Step 4: We collected multiple images across the entire year to create a video showcasing the changes in the flux of CO2 over time.